Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth”

Tennessee Center for Policy Research ^ | February 26, 2007 | TN center for policy research

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth” Gore’s home uses more than 20 times the national average

Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk to walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

[mountn man]

Well you see, sweat helps cool the body. But sweating more than the average person, his body cools itself more by evaporation.

Gore's body is environmentally more friendly, its imbedded in his DNA. He is the messiah.

All hale Al, savior of the universe.

[snoringbear]

All of these so called "green" celebrities are the same - hypocrites of the first order. The Kennedy's and their blocking of windmills off the coast of the Hyannis Port compound, Travolta and his personal Boeing 707 Babs Streisand and her suv's and multiple homes. It goes on and on if anyone wants to bother with the research. A minimalist approach to one's life style via conservation is a good thing - for everyone but themselves it seems.

[gas0linealley]

There's no secret here...Al's alarm clock is the culprit:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/4159/labhist.html

[randita]

There's a photoshop picture like the one you posted on the left which has flames coming out of Gore's mouth. I can't find it to post, but wouldn't that be applicable to this topic!

[HawaiianGecko]

<So you're suggesting that living in a huge mansion and using 20 times the energy of an average household will inspire 30 others to cut their electricity usage in half? Care to explain how that works?>

I'm neither suggesting nor did I write that living in a huge mansion that uses 20 times the energy inspires anyone to do anything. What I said is clear and is relatively easy to comprehend.

I'm suggesting that different people have different energy uses to do what they do.  I'm suggesting that Al Gore has personally been responsible for the conservation of more energy than you or I or even Al Gore have used in all of our lives combined.

I'm suggesting that Al's movie, while being over the top and very hyperbolic in it's viewpoint has inspired many to conserve their energy use.  It would be utter folly to believe otherwise.

I'm suggesting that if you have to fly to an auto show, or drive to an airplane show, that it's not hypocritical.

I'm also suggesting that I'll gladly trade my electric bill with Al's, but not my gas bill.  I'm also suggesting that if Al uses a little more electricity he can get it for 5.2 cents per kWhr instead of 6 cents.

Lastly I suggested 100 people not 30.

[Fawn]

I had to send it to a liberal acquaintance too. I know she is going to explode back at me....LOL

[saganite]

By your calculations the slavemaster who kept his slaves in squalor while he consumed the benefit of their work but only to the extent that he didn't exceed the daily requirements of the combined total of his subjects was providing a net benefit to the environment. Interesting logic.

[kellynla]

Excellent find by Drudge!
Thanks for posting.

[HawaiianGecko]

That is interesting logic.  Technically it's neither logical nor has any relationship to what I said, but it is interesting.

[highlander_UW]

I'm neither suggesting nor did I write that living in a huge mansion that uses 20 times the energy inspires anyone to do anything.<./I>

You're not being honest or you didn't pay attention to what you wrote. This is what you wrote...

If using 20 times the energy of an average person gets 100 people to cut their energy usage in half, then he technically has saved a net of 30 average people uses, or in short is generating energy.

You've yet to explain how Gore might get 100 (sorry I wrote 30 previously...although it makes no difference whatsoever) people to cut their enegy by using 20 times the energy at his mansion.

I'm suggesting that different people have different energy uses to do what they do.

Yup...and Algore needs 20 times what an average household needs to do what he does...which is be a hypocrite.

I'm suggesting that if you have to fly to an auto show, or drive to an airplane show, that it's not hypocritical.

I haven't commented about his air travel usage...the topic is the power used in his HOUSE, which you still haven't explained how it either inspires others to cut their usage in half. Have you cut your usage in half? I know I haven't..although my footprint is minuscule compared to Gore.

I'm also suggesting that I'll gladly trade my electric bill with Al's, but not my gas bill. I'm also suggesting that if Al uses a little more electricity he can get it for 5.2 cents per kWhr instead of 6 cents.

Sounds like your footprint is massively larger than mine as well if it's in Algore range...and tell me, how is using MORE electricity to get a price discount considered conservation of anything other than his money?

[saganite]

It's just to let you know what I think of your warped logic. Think of it as looking in a mirror.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Sure. It's a relatively simple concept, but let's clear up some hyperbole first. I doubt he's operating a power station.

Yes, it was a hyperbole. Didn't think you would take it literally. But since you have..

But if that's true is it a power plant or a sub station?

Since you are getting very specific here, maybe I subconsciously combined (power plant + sub station) = power station. Yes, it doesn't make any sense but maybe thats what I meant.

One actually converts one form of energy to electrical energy and the other simply boosts power.

No. A substation does not BOOST power, or create electrical energy in addition to whats coming in. It merely regulates power by altering voltages and currents, so that total power out = total power in - loss.

Or maybe you were raised in Europe where they use the term power station instead of power plant as Americans do.

I wasn't, and thank goodness. Actually I couldn't care less what terminology they use.

... built a "war room" in his home with a lot of equipment (electrical) to use in this cause... All of this uses energy..

Like a war room running power hungry equipment other than for heating and/or air conditioning ? What a coincidence that his energy use was highest in August (22.6 MWh !), as the report suggests - the peak summer month.

Beat up on ole Al for inflating the problem into something it isn't, not for using more energy than the average person.

I wouldn't, if he stopped telling average people to replace all their incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, and drive only dinky toy cars, and turn off their air conditioners and whatever else.

[gridlock]

If using 20 times the energy of an average person gets 100 people to cut their energy usage in half...

How does Algore using 20 times the average energy in his personal residence get anybody else to cut their consumption (aside from brownouts...)

One could make the argument that the private planes serve an efficiency purpose that allow his to speak more places and accomplish more work. But the huge mansion back home does nothing to advance the ball.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I've read the thread, and am interested in it. Sorry you can't ease up a bit.

[troy McClure]

Al Gores Reply
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/gore-responds-to-drudge/
Hmm an area to post comments on the page.

[television is just wrong]

Algore is a pompous hypocrite.

[Screamname]

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

I rent a two bedroom apt in Queens NYC..I pay about $100 a month or $1200 per year for electric as do most of my neighbors, and they also have families. That`s exactly 25 times less than effin` Al Gore. And as someone else pointed out, don`t forget about Al Gores use of private jets, SUV`s, etc etc. This is why I can`t stand freggin` liberals, I just completely loathe everything about them. Hypocrisy is their religion. "Do as I say, not as I do".. Up yours a-hole.

[Screamname]

What the?? I KNEW it! I just knew giant people existed! AAAAAH We are all gonna die!!! AGGGGGHHHH!

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

I wish Gore would run, just to watch him squirm when confronted with this...

[thackney]

I really like the logic of this one.

Gore has had a consistent position of purchasing carbon offsets to offset the family’s carbon footprint

It is okay to waste energy as long as you are rich enough to pay someone else to conserve for you. Nice.